Her rage was only getting worse. She felt it today. The reality was she could’ve killed Missy, and that was the real reason why she’d chosen to give her the beating in school. As incensed as she’d felt yesterday when Ali had gotten home with a swollen and scraped cheek, Lila hadn’t trusted herself to beat whoever was responsible somewhere where she might have too much time to inflict her punishment on them. Even if it’d been a guy, she’d been ready to take a bat to his fucking head.
“I’m working on it,” she muttered.
“Really?” This time Martinez chuckled. “How’s that working out for you?”
Lila rolled her eyes, looking out the window. “I’ll double up on my therapy.”
“No, I don’t think that’s gonna work.” He sat up, moved his mouse around his desk, and then typed something on his keyboard. “I hear your mother was a fighter. Boxing.”
Lila shrugged, glancing back out the window, refusing to show any emotion. This wasn’t something she wanted to talk about, and she didn’t want to lose her patience. All she wanted was for him to tell her how long she’d be suspended for and how else she’d be paying for today. Detention? Saturday school? Whatever it was, it’d been totally worth it.
“Ever think about fighting? Like in the ring?” He peered at her curiously. “Like your mom did?”
“Nope.” She glanced down at her already swelling knuckles.
“Why not?”
“Because it’s stupid.”
“Oh, that’s stupid.” He chuckled again. “Fighting in a controlled environment with a ref and rules to abide by is stupid. But fighting in the streets or school isn’t?”
Lila didn’t respond to that. She stared at the knuckles she needed to get home to ice. They were starting to hurt. Only she knew the pain would just be a pleasant reminder of how much more pain Missy was in.
“Why’s it stupid?” He raised his brows, confused. “You’re good at it. I saw what you did today against that big tough girl and—”
Lila scoffed, finally looking up at him. “Tough? She’s not tough. She’s nothing but a big bitch who likes bullying weaker and smaller kids because that’s what makes her feel tough. And that wasn’t fighting.” Lila pointed to the door. “That was me kicking her ass because she deserved it, not me against some trained fighter who might actually have a shot at hitting me. Fighting out of necessity isn’t stupid. Fighting for the sport of it is.”
“Is that why you’re so angry at your mom?”
Lila glanced away. She was not going there today. “Am I suspended?”
“Yes.” He turned from his computer screen and faced her. “And, technically, I can expel you. Missy’s parents are pissed that the cops weren’t called. They were talking about pressing charges.”
“What about what she did to Ali?
Martinez nodded, holding up a hand again. “I explained all that and that Ali is not the first one she’s bullied. They know this. Based on our zero tolerance for bullying, I could have Missy expelled too.”
“Then why don’t you? She shouldn’t be allowed—”
“Because I made a deal with them,” he said before Lila could go on with her rant. “Technically, Ali could press charges against Missy too. She still has the marks from the injuries Missy caused. Dozens of witnesses saw Missy do it and others have come forward with their own complaints about Missy. The damage you did to her today is bad, Lila, and while I think it was excessive, this will probably end her days of bullying. She’ll be wearing those scars for a long, long time. But I was able to convince her parents that it may be for the good of everyone involved if nobody presses charges and we all let bygones be bygones if we can all agree to no more violence.”
Hearing the words “press charges” and the possibility of ending up in jail scared the hell out of Lila. She gulped, staring at her knuckles. “If she stays away from my sister, you have my word I won’t touch her again.”
“Another part of this agreement and my decision not to expel you is that I’d personally see to it that you deal with all that anger in a positive way. So, all of this comes with one more condition.”
“Anything.”
“I want you to go down to 5th Street, the boxing gym around the corner—”
“Expel me.” Lila jumped to her feet.
“Sit down,” he said as she stood there glaring at him. “Do you want me to pull you out of this school and put you into a military-type school like your foster parents are suggesting we do? One where you’ll be on lock down and away from your sister until you turn eighteen?”
The hot tears from both anger and fear burned her eyes. “No.”
“Then sit down.” She did and the dean continued in a much calmer soothing tone. “You won’t have to fight anyone. But I really think hitting a punching bag and speed bag, working off some of that anger, would be good for you. It’s very therapeutic. It’s what I used to do.”
She stared at her knuckles again as the suffocating emotion she’d begun to feel about being locked away at some military school—away from and unable to protect Ali until she was eighteen–subsided. The thought of even putting on boxing gloves, something she’d sworn she’d never do, was still unbearable, even if she wouldn’t be fighting anyone. But the thought of not being there to look after her sister, who still had three more full years of living in foster care, was worse.
“I’ll do it,” she whispered.
Lila
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Veronica Cruz has been through hell and back. After disconnecting with the world two years ago to be at the side of her dying mother, she’s left alone, unemployed, overweight, and feeling a decade older than her twenty-eight years. When her best friend coaxes her into joining the local gym to ditch her depression and rejuvenate her life, she meets Noah. Assigned to help Veronica lose weight, Noah is everything she expected a young trainer to be—perfectly chiseled, supportive and motivating. Add to that, he’s incredibly sexy. He’s everything she’s ever looked for in a man. What she least expected was for him to fall for her, but he has. There’s just one glaring problem: Noah is eight years younger.
Noah Quintanilla has his eye on a boxing title—someday. Down for a few months with an injury, his maintenance-boy pay at 5th Street Gym won’t cut it. He’s finally given the opportunity to train. The catch? His trainee is an out-of-shape woman with a free week pass. Taking on the challenge, Noah stumbles into one of the closest friendships he’s ever known, and before he knows it, he’s in love. But Veronica’s not having it—the age difference is too much. Their platonic relationship means having to watch her date other men—something that would make him crazy. Believing he’s the man for her, Noah sets out to prove that age is but an illusion, and there’s more to him than just a number
Seventeen-year old Sarah’s life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her one goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno. Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl. With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark about the guy waiting for her back home?
Also by Elizabeth Reyes
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“I’m not jealous, but what’s mine is mine. End of story.”
There’s a difference between whom we love, whom we settle for, and whom we’re meant for.
Things sizzle when these fighters meet their romantic matches outside the ring.
The mean streets of LA have never been so sexy.
When mystery meets romantic thriller, things get wild.
Acknowledgments
First of all, I’d like to thank you all for your patience as, once again, o
ne of my deadlines ran away from me. After all the blood, sweat, and, oh man, TEARS that went into this one, I hope it was worth it for you! I hope I was able to turn those tears into smiles by the end!
As always, thank you Mark, my “assistant,” my inspiration for so many of the funnies in my story, my soul mate, my everything. Thanks for constantly keeping me giggling, laughing, and even snorting! I love you!
I’d like to thank my longtime and loyal bloggers, who, after all these years, have stuck with me. I hope to make 2018 very memorable going back to my roots and getting some new stuff out as well. REAL excited about Nine and can hardly wait to get the cover out to y’all!
Once again, a special thank you to my “critique partner,” JB Salsbury! As usual, your input was spot on and beyond helpful! I look forward to continuing to work with you, and I’m dying to read the rest of your WIP. You can do it, girl, and I promise you it’s gonna be AWESOME!
Thank you to all the new SUPERSTAR betas I brought on this time around: Stace Nicholson, Denise Orloski, Breanne Nelson, Teresa Mangrum, Lee Ann Ahl, Christie Lagarde, and Andrea Lefkowitz! I was very pleasantly surprised about how detailed and honest you were, and your input was truly helpful! Look forward to working with each of you again! And as always my long time loyals, Emily Lamphear, and Judy Devries.
Thank you to Theresa (Eagle Eyes) Wegand, my one-stop superhero, beta reader/editor/formatter, listener to all my whiny rants/vents and obsessive worrying. As always, your work is impeccable, and I can’t say enough about it. Thank you for sticking with me, too, even with everything that’s changed. Here’s to many more years of doing this together!
Thank you to Amanda Simpson of Pixel Mischief Design for my cover art. As usual you never disappoint! Nico on this cover is PERFECTION! I think many would agree. I can HARDLY wait to show them what you did with Nine! ;)
Shout out to my street team “Team Reyes!” and to my admins, Jenn DaSilva, Delashawne Acevedo, Sarah Mannering. A special shout out to Leslie Cary. I know 2017 was a tough one for you, but remember we’re all here for you. Chin up and hang in there! You got this! Royals! If you haven’t heard, we’re planning a special meet and greet in Denver and Book Bonanza! So be sure to check out the details in the group!
Lastly, gracias a mi “par de consentidas” for making me laugh so much and ALL your love. Thank you, for allowing me to vent and be part of your lives. I feel like I know you better than I know some of my own hometown friends. =D You two are part of my "work" day! ;)
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author Elizabeth Reyes was born and raised in southern California where she lives with her husband, Mark and their two adult children, Mark & Megan, a Great Dane named Dexter, and one big fat cat named Tyson.
She spends most her time in front of her computer, writing and keeping up with all the social media, and loves it. She says that there is nothing better than doing what you absolutely love for a living, and she eats, sleeps, and breathes these stories, which are constantly begging to be written.
Representation: Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich now handles all questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of Ms. Reyes’ work.
For more information on her upcoming projects and to connect with her--she loves hearing from you all—here are a few places you can find her:
Website: www.ElizabethReyes.com
Facebook fan page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Reyes/278724885527554
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Twitter: @AuthorElizabeth
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Email
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Elizabeth Reyes, We Were One_Looking Glass
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